Squeeze in a table or breakfast bar in kitchen?

[Iggly]

We've gone back and forwards with our kitchen (planning a new one in late summer) and really want seating in there. Originally we I wanted a table but DH persuaded me to have a breakfast bar and I agreed. It means we can have a clear path to the garden. If we had a table, we'd have to walk around it to get to the back door. Or we'd have to lose a wall of cabinets and put the table there.

However, we've redone the plan (again!) to squeeze in a full height pull out larder. It'll be next to the fridge and IMO with a breakfast bar as well, it'll feel quite closed in. So am wondering if we should reconsider a table and walk around it to get to the back door.

What would you have? Table or breakfast bar?

We've just done our kitchen and um'd and ah'd about this same issue for ages. Went with a table and I'm really happy with the decision. Crucial point for us was that we often have extra kids for tea or people over and we do like to sit in the kitchen - a breakfast bar would have no flexibility at all. Got a great extending table from IKEA which fits the bill!

Table

I have a good size kitchen but was amazed at how much more space a table with flat back chairs gives us compared to the rounded back chairs we had previously if that helps.

Is the worktop with supporting pole where you woudl have the breakfast bar?

Can you take this out and have the table in that space, with bench seating between the doors?

Not a huge amount of space for a table, can see your issue.

Where is the door to the current sitting room?

Yes that's it. Door to sitting room is off hallway. No direct route from kitchen to sitting room but you come out of kitchen and turn left into sitting room. Technically we could knock a door into sitting room (where the fridge is) but that's too much work.

I've rejigged the plans and decided to ditch the breakfast bar idea completely and see if we can get a table in the living room (it's 12 foot by 10 so loads of room). We were thinking of making the current dining room more of a sitting/play room just without a tv. So could make the current sitting room a dining area with sofa and tv. If DH agrees

I'm finding this thread really useful!

I would try and fit a small, round table in where the breakfast bar is shown, even if you need to use stools under it rather than chairs.
Dont think the becnh seating woudl work as the doors create a bit of a corridor effect.

But sth like this woudl be good for breaksast/snacks and for supper/family meals you coudl use your living room (new dining room).

chezlarsson.com/myblog/2011/06/bonus-adventure.html

That's a nice table. We've had a chat on the back of this thread and have decided to ditch the breakfast bar. Once the kitchen is in, we can the. Decide what kind of seating we can fit in as the planner isn't easy to visualise. It looks much better without the bar I have to say!